Kaufman: The Season (Austin Arrows Book 2)

by Nicole Edwards

  “Thank you.” Again, she sounds stunned. “Can you give me a couple of minutes?” She steps back out of the way to allow me inside.

  “Of course.” She can have all the time in the world. I’m content to simply be in the same room with her right now.

  An hour and a half later, we’re finishing dinner. The conversation has been ongoing, with Noelle telling me about her perception of Ellie and Kingston. It wasn’t a topic I set out to discuss, but she’s so animated I can’t help but smile.

  “So you schooled him today?” I inquire.

  “Pffft. I’m not sure I’d go that far, but someone’s gotta talk some sense into that man.”

  When the waiter brings the dessert tray by, I urge Noelle to pick something. She jumps at the opportunity, and I realize that’s something else I love about her. Her excitement is pure and genuine.

  “What do you want to do after this?” I ask, still trying to feel my way through this whole dating thing.

  “You’re supposed to be courting me, big C. That’s not up to me.”

  The heat in her eyes tells me she has something on her mind, but we both know that can’t happen. Maybe she’s testing me, trying to see if I’ll break. A couple of months ago, maybe. But not after having spent so much time without this woman. I’m happy being in the same room with her. It’s all that matters to me.

  The waiter delivers Noelle’s dessert, and as she takes her first bite of her triple chocolate mousse, I have to remind myself of my priorities. This woman is not easy to resist.

  Half an hour later, we’re back in the car. The driver circles the block while I try to come up with a plan on where to take her. I’m considering the movies, actually looking them up on my phone when the thing rings in my hand.

  Amber’s name comes up on the screen. I glance over at Noelle. She’s noticed, but her expression is completely blank.

  “I haven’t talked to her on a personal level in many weeks, Noelle,” I assure her. “Which means if she’s calling…”

  “Answer it.” She turns and peers out the window.

  I hate to do this, but the hair on the back of my neck is standing up. For Amber to call me, something has to be seriously wrong.

  “Hey,” I greet, watching Noelle the entire time.

  “Help me…”

  Alarm bells ring in my head and I instantly reach for Noelle’s hand. “What’s wrong, Amber? Where are you?”

  She can hardly speak, but she manages to choke out the word home, followed by, “Please help me.”

  Noelle is staring at me, her eyes wide as I rattle off the address to the driver, telling him to hurry.

  Fifteen minutes later, I’m dragging Noelle up to Amber’s front porch. There’s no door on the house anymore. Well, technically, there is, but it’s hanging by the hinges. Son of a bitch.

  “Oh, my God!” Noelle starts to go inside, but I pull her back.

  The fact that there are no cops out front freaks me out. The only car in the driveway is Amber’s, but something’s obviously wrong.

  “Stay behind me,” I order her, moving into the house. That’s when I see the blood trail.

  The silence is threatening to choke me.

  “Amber?”

  No response.

  Noelle pulls away from me and runs to the kitchen, while I peek into the dining room.

  “Her phone’s in here!” Noelle yells. “It’s covered in blood, Spencer.”

  We both turn to head down the hall, following the blood that seems to have started in the kitchen. There are three doors, only one of them open, and that’s where the trail ends. I go there first.

  Noelle launches herself past me into the bathroom. “Oh, God! Spencer! Call 911, right now!”

  I follow, finding Amber lying on the floor. There is blood everywhere. On the sink, the cabinets, pooling on the floor beside her. I’m dialing the emergency number while Noelle drops to her knees at Amber’s side.

  When the operator answers, I give her as much information as I can, including Amber’s address.

  “Don’t move,” Noelle insists. “Amber, I’m serious. Be very still.”

  “He’s gonna kill me,” she rattles, her voice barely a whisper.

  “Yeah, I think he already tried to do that,” Noelle says softly, her terrified gaze swinging up to mine. “They have to hurry.”

  I follow her gaze as she glances down, carefully lifting Amber’s sleeve. Her wrists have been sliced, which explains all the blood.

  “Son of a bitch.” I grab as many towels as I can find and throw them at Noelle. She’s applying pressure, but she looks to be in shock. I don’t blame her. This is unreal. Amber seems to be drifting in and out of consciousness.

  Finally, the sound of sirens is loud outside. Leaving Noelle with Amber, I run to the front porch and do my best to tell the first responders what we found when we arrived.

  Noelle joins me in the living room when the paramedics push their way into the bathroom.

  “Do you think she tried to kill herself?” Noelle whispers.

  I shake my head. “I think he was hoping it would look like that.”

  “I was afraid you were gonna say that.”

  Well, it only makes sense because the front door had obviously been kicked in and the blood started in the kitchen. From what I can tell, Amber probably tried to make it to the bathroom to stop the bleeding after she called me.

  Fucking hell.

  While we wait for Amber to be loaded into the ambulance, I pull up Amber’s parents’ phone number on her bloody cell phone, careful not to mess with it too much. I figure the police probably want it for evidence. I take a deep breath and dial her father’s number. I try to explain what’s going on, but I can’t seem to get the words out. Noelle takes my hand, then the phone. Calmly, she tells Amber’s father what happened and where they’re taking Amber. When she’s finished, I glance over to see the police waiting to talk to us.

  Looks like our date is officially over.

  Noelle’s Journal

  Dear Universe,

  How about we forget what I want right now and let’s focus on Amber. I want her to be okay. That’s the only thing I want. Maybe tomorrow we can talk about the fact that Spencer told me he loved me. Tonight, we’ll keep up the positive vibes for Amber. She needs them more than I do.

  43

  Noelle

  Monday, February 20th

  “HOW IS SHE?” I ASK Amber’s father.

  Spencer and I remained at the hospital with Amber until her parents arrived several hours after we’d found her on the bathroom floor. At that point, exhaustion had set in, so I had Spencer take me home. He insisted on staying the night, and I didn’t argue with him. He was the perfect gentleman, holding me while I cried. I’m not sure why I was crying, but finding Amber like that, knowing that a man who was supposed to love her could do something so vicious… It gutted me.

  “She’s awake and a little irritable,” he says kindly. “She’s talking to the police again right now. Her mother’s with her.” His tortured gaze drops to the cup of coffee in his hand. “Thank you for getting to her.”

  “That was all Spencer, Mr. North.” And that’s true. If Spencer hadn’t thought there was a problem and answered the phone last night, who knows what could’ve happened to Amber. When I asked her why she didn’t call 911, she told me that she tried to, but it didn’t ring through, so she called the only other person she knew might be able to get to her in time.

  “I can’t believe I let this happen,” Mr. North grumbles, his voice hoarse.

  “No one let this happen,” I tell him insistently, albeit a little angrily. It bothers me that good people take on the weight of things like this. Evil exists. But we don’t let it happen to good people. It simply does, unfortunately.

  He shakes his head, clearly not believing me. He�
��s her father, so I get it. My father would feel the same way if, God forbid, something like this happened to me or Julie.

  A woman dressed in plain clothes steps out of Amber’s hospital room, closing the door behind her. She looks at me with disinterest, then turns and walks down the hallway.

  “Would you mind if I go in and see her?” I ask Mr. North.

  “I’m sure she’d like that,” he says.

  I don’t know if I’d go that far, but I do want to talk to Amber.

  I wait while Mr. North slips into the room, then emerges with Amber’s mother a minute later. “I’m going to take my wife to get something to eat. Would you mind staying with her until we get back?”

  “Not at all.”

  When they are halfway down the hall, I turn and open the door, peeking my head in.

  Amber’s battered face angles toward me but then quickly turns away.

  “Hey.”

  She doesn’t respond.

  I take her in. Her face is bruised, her right eye nearly swollen shut, her lip puffy and split. She’s got stark white bandages around both wrists, and she looks so completely defeated.

  “I wanted to come check on you.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “Sure I did,” I say, keeping my tone upbeat as I close the door. “That’s what friends do.”

  Making my way around to the side of the bed, I insert myself between Amber and the window she seems so fascinated with. I set my purse down so she knows I’m planning to stay awhile. Neither of us says anything for several minutes, but it’s not uncomfortable. Not for me anyway. I can’t speak for Amber.

  When she finally meets my gaze again, I offer a small smile. “Want to talk about it?”

  She shakes her head.

  “Got it. No talking.” I glance around the room momentarily, then back to her. “When you’re ready to, will you find me?”

  Her green eyes slide to my face.

  “I’m not gonna push you,” I tell her, keeping my voice soft. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through, but I want you to know that I am a friend. I’m here for you if you need me. Whenever you need me.”

  “He loves you,” she says softly.

  I’m not going to pretend not to know what she’s talking about.

  “I think you’re right.”

  A small smile tugs at her mouth, but then it’s gone. “My parents want me to move home with them.”

  “Is that what you want?”

  She shakes her head.

  “Are you going to?”

  Amber shrugs.

  “Well, I don’t know what hell you’ll have to walk through in order to get past this, Amber, but I can tell you, there are people here who care about you. You’ve got an entire team who will be out for vengeance once they find out. I know you might not think so, but it’s true. You have friends here. And if you decide you want to stay, that you want to put your life back together, we’re here for you. Every one of us. This guy is an asshole and the police will find him.”

  She doesn’t look convinced.

  “I’m not here to tell you what to do, Amber. But the one thing I know for a fact, you keeping all this to yourself hasn’t helped. So, if you decide to stay in Austin, to continue with the great job that you have, working for the greatest team in the NHL, I’m going to become your friend. Ask Ellie; I’m pretty ruthless. And annoying.”

  Another smile tugs at the corner of her mouth.

  I give her a little breathing room. Ellie constantly tells me that people can only take me in small doses. I’ve probably overloaded the poor woman and she’s been through hell already. I pull my phone from my pocket and take a seat in the recliner, pretending not to notice the way Amber glances at me periodically. The silence is peaceful, which helps.

  Of course, my energy level doesn’t allow me to sit for long. I get up, pace the small area between the bed and the window. I look outside, look inside, glance over at my purse.

  “Oh! I almost forgot. I brought you something.” Reaching into my purse, I pull out a copy of The Secret. “I want you to read this. No, I don’t think it’ll help with the current situation, but I figure a little positive thinking is right up everyone’s alley. Plus, I’m living proof that it works.”

  I place the book on the small tray in front of her.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome. And I’m serious. When you’re ready to talk, I’m ready to listen.”

  There’s a light knock on the door, then it opens to reveal Amber’s parents have come back. I turn to the woman in the bed. “Remember what I said.” Giving her hand a soft squeeze, I then turn to go.

  I don’t know how to help Amber, but this is something that I can do for her.

  I can admit to being a damn good friend.

  Spencer

  AFTER PRACTICE, I DECIDED TO go to the hospital to see Amber. Her parents awkwardly thanked me again for taking care of her last night, but the truth is, I really didn’t do anything except call the police. However, I accepted their thanks. Again.

  “We’re gonna go grab some coffee,” Mr. North tells Amber. “Do you need anything?”

  She shakes her head. I can tell she probably wants some time alone. I don’t blame her. I’m not planning to stay long.

  When her parents finally leave the room, I turn to her. “How’re you feelin’?”

  “Like a pathetic mess,” she says, sounding a little too honest.

  I frown. “Pathetic?”

  “I’m so mad at myself for letting him get to me.”

  “I don’t think you let him do anything, Amber.”

  She clams up, just as she always does on this particular subject.

  Based on the story Amber told last night, her ex-husband, Will Daughtery showed up at her house around eight o’clock, beating on the door and insisting she let him in. She refused to answer, so he kicked the door in. When she threatened to call the police, he punched her. In the fucking face. After he fought with her some more, he tried to backpedal, apologizing profusely, professing his love for her, but when Amber didn’t let him get away with it, the shit hit the fan. As for why her wrists were both sliced, she informed the police that he told her the world would be better off without her, and if her parents thought she killed herself, it would serve them right.

  The bastard’s fucking crazy and I want to beat his face in simply for being a prick.

  I glance around the room, my eyes coming to rest on a book on the table beside Amber’s bed. Recognizing it instantly, I move over and pick it up, smiling as I do.

  “Noelle came to see me this morning. She left that for me.”

  “I figured as much.” The woman and her universe. Damn, she’s something else. Something exceptional.

  “Without saying as much, she made me feel as though I might be able to pull through this.”

  I lift my eyebrows, waiting for her to continue.

  “She’s great,” Amber admits.

  “She is.” I won’t deny that.

  “I take it y’all are working things out?”

  Amber knows that Noelle and I stopped seeing one another a couple of months back. “Last night was our first official date. She finally let me take her out.”

  Her eyes widen in horror. “Oh, my God. I shouldn’t have called.”

  Honestly, I didn’t say it to make her feel bad.

  I snort because that’s just asinine. “I’m glad you did.” I nod toward the bed, not bothering to add to that statement. We both know that she probably would’ve died last night if Noelle and I hadn’t shown up when we did.

  “My parents want me to move home with them for a while.”

  “What do you want?”

  She shrugs. “Noelle asked me that same thing and I’ve given it some thought. I don’t want
to keep running. I don’t want to live my life in fear anymore. But it’s easier said than done. I’m scared. When I go home, I’ll be scared. Until they find him, I’m not sure how I’ll sleep at night. Plus, I always find myself giving in to him. He sweet-talks his way into my life, always apologizing.”

  What do you say to that? Here’s a woman who has been beaten and nearly killed by her ex-husband. If it was easy to walk away, then women, and men, wouldn’t suffer at the hands of their significant other.

  “I want to be strong.”

  “Well, I’d say you’re already strong.” I take a step closer.

  She snorts. “No, I’m a coward. I let him control me for too long.”

  Again, I don’t think she let him do anything, but I don’t bother telling her that. “Amber, I think you need to seek help. I know there are groups who can help, others who have lived through what you have. You don’t have to suffer through this alone.”

  She nods. “I know. I really do, and I’m going to reach out to someone. I don’t want to give him the control back. And I don’t want to leave my home. I ran from Florida to get away from him, but I’m happy being back here. And I’m going to stay here. I love my job. I love the team. I don’t want to leave that. I’d like to get my life back.”

  “Good.”

  “And I’d like to take Noelle up on her offer of friendship.”

  I nod. I think that’s a good start.

  “As long as that’s not too weird for you.”

  “Why would it be weird?”

  “Your ex-girlfriend and your new girlfriend.”

  I haven’t thought about Noelle as my girlfriend, but when Amber says it, it seems fitting.

  “As long as y’all promise not to talk about me,” I joke.

  “I would promise, but I’d be lying.”

  Smiling, I pat Amber’s arm. “I think Mark will be glad to know you’re staying. And I think, if you’re up to it, there are a couple of charities I’d like to look into to include in the Austin Arrows Foundation. Something that you can contribute to as well.”

  “I’d like that.”

  It looks to me as though she wants to say something else, so I wait. It takes a couple of minutes, but she finally looks up at me again.